Bottle capping and closing machine



Feb. 11, 1936. J. J. ILLIAN BOTTLE CAPPING AND CLOSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR'. khv 1m ATTORNEYS.

y 1936' J. J. lLLlAN BOTTLE CAPPING AND CLOSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 27; 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR'. k/aca J ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

My invention relates to machines for capping milk bottles and the like, and is an improvement over the machine patented by me on February 13, 1917, No. 1,215,812.

The main object of my improvement is to provide a machine which has a reliable feed and may be depended on to operate efficiently at the customary working speed.

A further object of the improvement is to incorporate in the feed a means to sever the unit of paper forming the supplementary closure of the cap.

A still further object of the improvement is to design a simple and positive mechanism which procures clearance for the feed on the inactive stroke.

Another object of the invention is to design the novel machine for smooth operation with a minimum number of sturdy and simple parts. 7

With the above objects in view and any others that may suggest themselves from the specification and claims to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of the improved machine;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the lower portion of Fig. 1, partly in section and showing by means of dotted line a change in the position of the working parts;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the base of the machine, partly cut away;

Fig. 5 is a section showing the cap and supplemental closure fitted to a typical milk bottle;

Fig. 6 is a plan View of the showing in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a section on the line '|-'l of Fig. 1.

In general, the improved machine follows the principle of the patented one, in that a supply of pasteboard caps is provided from which these are fed one by one under a plunger, which forces a cap into the mouth of a bottle on the down stroke of the plunger. The caps are fed by a 1 v slide which has a reciprocatory motion by connection with the plunger; also, a feed mechanism works with the slide to direct a blank of 1 thin paper forming the supplementary closure under the cap, so that both the latter and the blank are fitted to the bottle; As before, the object of the supplementary closure is not only to form a seal and better fit of the cap in the mouth of the bottle, but also to provide projections which may be lifted to quickly remove the cap from the bottle without the use of any implements or special formations or attachments for the cap. Thus, a firm, sanitary and easily removable closure is provided.

With reference to the machine, particular attention to the drawings shows the cylinder for the plunger at l 5, the plunger being shown at i 6 and its rod at I611. The magazine for the stock of pasteboard caps is indicated at H, the assembly being mounted on a suitable base l8. It is understood that a suitable mechanismnot shown-procures the periodical depression of the plunger rod Ilia, this mechanism operating from that which feeds the bottles one by one under the base I 8. The bottle feed usually raises each bottle when it arrives at a position under the cylinder l5, and need not be shown because it is standard equipment in all milk bottle capping machines.

The cylinder 15 carries a lateral arm I50. forming a bearing for a side stem |5b carried by a cross head I9. The stem 157) receives an expansive coil spring 150, and the cross head is a part of the plunger rod mechanism, so that the eifect of the spring 150 is to return the plunger to its raised position after each down stroke.

The slide for fitting the caps Ila to a position under the plunger is indicated at 20, and it is understood that the slide recedes on the down stroke of the plunger and advances on the up stroke thereof. The connection to procure this action is clearly shown in Fig. 1, being a lever 2|, which is pivoted at 2la to the bearing arm l5a and has a slotted cam 2 lb controlled by the action of a roller 21c carried by twin extensions 19a of the cross head l9. Fig. 7 shows the particular connection more clearly, indicating that the roller 210 is freely journaled on the shank IQ!) of a screw 190 which is inserted through one extension Na. and threaded into the other. The down stroke of the plunger serves to swing the lever 2| in the direction of the arrow so that a connecting arm 22 pivotally attached to the bottom of the lever 2| at 2| (2 may move in a corresponding direction and procure the horizontal movement of the slide by a connection to be described.

The slide 20 operates between a bottom plate I5d extended from the cylinder l5 and a subplate l5e, spaced a short distance below the plate I5d. In the region of the cylinder, these plates are joined together in contacting relation since the slide does not advance so far. The connecting arm 22 is laterally divided in the nature of a fork, and the ends of its sections receive screws 23 in the region of the front end of the slide 20.

While the connecting arm is intended to operate the slide it does not do so directly, but through an intermediate mechanism. Thus, on each side of the slide is mounted a bar 24 which is tapped to receive the screw 23 which passes loosely through the corresponding section of the connecting arm 22. Each bar is slidable a short distance along the corresponding corner edge of the slide 29, this distance being limited by passing a screw 25 freely through an elongated slot 50. made in the bar, the screw then threading into the slide. The slot 25a thus provides a limited loss of motion which is so small that it is negligible when the connection for driving the slide is concerned, so that it may be assumed that the drive of the slide from the plunger is positive.

In order that the paper sheet may be fed to a position under the cap, I first provide a supply r011 26 carried by a suitable standard 26a erected on the base 18. The supply roll is periodically perforated as indicated at 261) to separate the units of the sheet, the perforations being of such width as to allow a minimum of paper stock between them, consistent with the strength of the paper, and so facilitate the severing of the units from the sheet. While I have shown narrow elongated perforations, it will be understood that I may form the perforations in circular, diamond or other form which may best suit my purpose.

In leading the paper sheet through the base l8 of the machine, the latter is cut with a depressed entrance as indicated at Isa in Fig. 2, the floor of the entrance rising in inciined form to a levelslightly below the top of the base; also, the lateral limits of the floor are consistent with the width of the sheet fed from the roll In order that the sheet may move along a level course, I provide a top plate 21 in very slight spacing over the floor of the base, preferably supporting this plate at the entrance by a cross strap 21a, which is secured over the plate and extends with apertured ends receiving studs 28 rising from the side portions of the base. The inner end of the plate 2'! rests on the floor of the base and leaf springs 29 are directed from the latter upon the side portions of the plate to hold the same down. Thus, the paper sheet is kept in flat condition during its passage through the base and cannot buck-1e or clog whereby to interrupt its smooth progress through the machine, yet the plate 21 will yield to uneven portions of the sheet.

In order that the paper sheet for the supplementary enclosure may be properly fed to the capping zone, a mechanism actuated by the slide is employed. The rear end portion of the slide is formed with depending apertured ears 3% for disposing a rock shaft 3i in a transverse position under the slide. The rock shaft carries forwardly projecting arms am terminating with a push plate 3lb which has a series of depending teeth 3|c. These dip into a corresponding series of longitudinal channels 1% cut in the floor of the base 18, access of the teeth to these being had by passing through a like series of slots 29a cut in the slide 251. A connection is made be tween the side bars 24 and the rock shaft 3| by pivoting the rear ends of the side bars at 24a to stems 3ld upstanding from the end portions of the rock shaft. It may be assumed that the teeth 3|c cooperate with the slots 25b in the paper sheet 25 to propel the same through the base. Thus, when the slide is at its rearmost position, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the teeth 3 lo engage one slotted zone in the sheet,

and as the slide takes its forward stroke the sheet is moved a distance suitable to project a section or unit-appearing as in Fig. 6-in the capping zone. However, on the back stroke of the slide, the sheet must be free from the feed mechanism, and it is here that the lost motion of the side bars 24 permits these to turn the rock shaft 3| by the connection of the stems iild whereby to lift the teeth 3Ic a requisite distance to be free of the paper sheet before a back stroke of the slide ensues, this expedient forming a positive release of the sheet during such back stroke.

The push plate 31b carries trunnions 35 for a tubular rock shaft- 32 formed with a set of teeth 320. similar to and disposed in doubled contact with the teeth 310, the points of each pair of teeth tapering to be very close at their extremities. Thus, they enter the slot of the paper sheet 26 together and remain so during the forward progress of the slide, as the frontal teeth 32a hold their place by gravity. Howeve-, when the forward limit of the stroke is approached, an upward lug 321) at each end of the rock shaft 32 strikes a stationary finger 33 projected from one of the feet 15 of the cylinder 15, causing the rock shaft 32 to turn a short distance in a clockwise direction and the teeth 32a to advance, tearing the frontal paper sheet unit, which is now in the capping zone, away from the body of the sheet. At this time, the bottle is also in the capping zone and has been raised to take up the sheet unit in readiness for the pasteboard cap and the down stroke of the plunger. In this connection, it is seen that the opening I of the base l8 in the capping zone is formed with a receding circular wall [801 in a downward direction, such wall forming a lead to center the bottle in case the latter is raised somewhat out of line, so that the bottle head necessarily meets the center portion of the sheet unit.

With reference to the sheet unit, Fig. 6 shows that it is cut with a number of fine radial slits 260. These facilitate the gathering of the paper when forced into the mouth of the bottle by the plunger, whereby to make a uniform fit and prevent jamming. Also, it will be noted in Fig. 4 that I have cut the base i8 of the machine with a longitudinal central slot or opening l8e, this permitting the insertion of the finger or a tool from below to advance or otherwise move the base sheet in case the same is wrongly positioned or has become severed on the way to the capping zone. Further, it will be noted that I have provided an intermediate connection 2lc as a spacer between the lever 2| and the pivot 2Id. The spacer overlaps the lower portion of the lever and receives a fastening screw 2|) from the same. However, the lever also has a higher perforation 2lg to change the screw connection and shorten the reach of the lever to the arm 22. The latter thus has two adjustments to lengthen or shorten the stroke imparted to it by the lever.

A simple expedient to facilitate the seating of the bottle cap Ha is had by slitting the latter in a few places along its periphery, as indicated at l'lb, so that the peripheral sections become more flexible than the cap as a whole and yield more readily and evenly to the capping pressure.

In order that the feeding and severing teeth 3lc and 32a may engage the paper sheet 26 at the proper height for efficient operation, I provide a vertical adjustment for the push plate. Thus, the supporting arms 3 la are freely pivoted to the rock shaft 3|.

The operative connection between the rock shaft and the push plate is in the form of a lifter bar 3Ig apertured to receive the rock shaft and receiving a set screw 3|,f for securing purposes. By means of a lug 3le projecting from the push plate, the assembly of the latter rests on the reduced free end 3H1, of the bar 3lg. Thus, should it be necessary to lower the push plate assembly, the set screw 3| may be loosened, the bar depressed relative to the rock shaft, and the set screw re-tightened.

It will be seen that I have provided a machine for the purpose specified which is made of few and sturdy parts, and contains no springs or other delicate parts in its immediate feeding mechanism. The feeding action is positive, for the severing action of the closure sheet operated by a simple principle, the feeding elements retaining the main portion of the sheet against such severing action by the operation of the plunger as may not be completed by the severing elements associated with the feeding elements. Further, the particular lifting expedient for the feeding elements assures the return stroke of the slide without any connection with or harm to the paper sheet. Finally, the mechanism is of a type consistent with and readily applicable to existing capping machines.

I claim:

1. In a bottle capping machine, a feed slide for the caps, a reciprocatory plunger for applying the caps, a pair of bars along the sides of the slide and operatively connected to the latter for feeding a supplementary closure simultaneously with the caps and beneath the same, and actuating means for the bars comprising a lever receiving an oscillatory motion from the plunger, a forked arm extended from the lever in the direction of the slide, the sections of the arm making pivotal connections with the respective bars, and an intermediate section between the lever and the arm adjustable to vary the length of the lever and correspondingly affect the stroke of the arm and slide.

2. In a bottle capping machine, a feed slide for the caps, laterally bifurcated means to impart a reciprocatory movement to the slide, and a feed for a supplementary closure strip to bring a section thereof beneath the cap being applied, said feed comprising a pair of bars operatively connected to the arms of said bifurcated means and mounted upon the sides of the slide, the bars having slots, screws passed through the latter into the slides to transmit said movement with a limited amount of lost motion, and a push plate for the strip carried by the slide and controlled by said motion to fall and rise on the feed and return strokes of the slide respectively.

3. In a bottle capping machine, a feed slide for the caps, and means for feeding a supplementary closure strip beneath the cap being applied, said means comprising a support carried by the slide, a push plate for the strip extending from the support, and means associated with the latter to vertically adjust the push plate.

4. In a bottle capping machine, a feed slide for the caps, and means for feeding a supplementary closure strip beneath the cap being applied, said means comprising a supporting shaft carried by the slide, a push plate for the strip pivoted on said shaft, a rearward lug from the push plate, and a radial bar carried by the shaft and receiving the lug on its free end.

5. In a bottle capping machine, a feed slide for the caps, and means for feeding a supplementary closure strip beneath the cap being applied, said means comprising a supporting shaft carried by the slide, a push plate for the strip pivoted on said shaft, a rearward lug from the push plate, a radial bar carried by the shaft and receiving the lug on its free end, and a set screw from the bar to the shaft for the rotary adjustment of the bar relative to the latter to vary the height of the push plate.

J AC'OB J. 

